Loading apparatus for exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A loading apparatus for an exercise machine mainly includes a motor and a controller. The motor is connected to an exercise apparatus, on which a user may take exercise, of the exercise machine through a transmission device. The controller has a circuitry, which has at least a resistor, has opposite ends connected to the motor and a switch in the circuitry. Whereby, when a user takes exercise on the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine, it will turn a rotor of the motor through the transmission device to generate an induced current. The induced current flows through the circuitry and back to the motor to drive the rotor turning reversely. It provides the exercise apparatus a brake to make user taking exercise with a loading.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise machine, and more particularly to a loading apparatus for the exercise machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

In present days, people go to gyms to take exercise on exercise machines, such as treadmill, exercise bike, stepper, elliptical trainer, and the like, for body building or weight loss. Some people buy the exercise machines to take exercise at home.

Conventional exercise machines are equipped with a loading apparatus to provide user taking exercise under different loading levels. Common loading apparatus includes friction type and magnet type. The friction type loading apparatus, like the brake, has brake pad pressing the flywheel to provide the exercise machine loading, and changes the loading by exerting the brake pad with different pressures. The magnet type loading apparatus provides magnets on the flywheel and a lever with magnet thereon. The lever is moved toward or away from the magnets on the flywheel to change the magnetic force between the magnets that may provide the exercise different loadings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a loading apparatus of an exercise machine, which the principle of generating loading is different from the prior devices.

The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a loading apparatus of an exercise machine, which needs no additional power to generate loading.

According to the objectives of the present invention, a loading apparatus for an exercise machine mainly includes a motor. The motor is connected to an exercise apparatus, on which a user may take exercise, of the exercise machine through a transmission device. A circuitry has opposite ends connected to the motor. Whereby, when a user takes exercise on the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine, it will turn a rotor of the motor through the transmission device to generate an induced current. The induced current flows through the circuitry and back to the motor to drive the rotor turning reversely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sketch diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sketch diagram of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sketch diagram of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is sketch diagram of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a part of an exercise bike, which includes a frame 10, a crank 12 and a loading apparatus of the present invention.

The loading apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a motor 14 and a controller 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the crank 12 is connected to the motor 18 through a transmission device 18 that exerting the crank 12 may turn the motor 14. The transmission device 18 includes a gear 20 mounted with the crank 12 and a worm 24 on a spindle 22 of the motor 14. The motor 14, same as a common motor, includes a case 26, a stator 28, a rotor 30, and a brush (not shown). The stator 28 includes magnets mounted on an interior side of the case 26, and the rotor 30 has wires (not shown) wound thereon and the spindle 22. The wires are connected to two electrodes 32, 34 on the case 26 through the brush, and the electrodes 32, 34 are connected to a circuitry 42 in the controller 16 through two wires 36, 38. The controller 16 includes a switch 40 and the circuitry 42 with a resistor R, as shown in FIG. 2.

When user exerts the crank 12 to turn the rotor 30 of the motor 14 through the transmission device 18, the motor 14 becomes a power generator to generate an induced electromotive force for an induced current. The induced current flows to the controller 16 via the brush, the electrode 32, and the wire 36, and will flow back to the motor 14 through the circuitry 42, the wire 38, and the electrode 34 to drive the rotor 30 turning reversely. When the resistor R in the circuitry 42 has a great resistance, the potential difference between the electrodes 32, 34 is greater, and the induced current is small that the power of driving the rotor 30 turning reversely is small. As a result, the loading apparatus of the present invention provides a small loading to user who takes exercise on the exercise machine. On the contrary, when the resistor R of the circuitry 42 has a small resistance, the current flows back to the motor 14 through the circuitry 42 is great that the power of driving the rotor 30 turning reversely is great, therefore, the loading apparatus of the present invention provides user a great loading.

When the switch 40 is turned to OFF, which means the resistance of the circuitry 42 is infinity and no induced current will flows back to the motor through the circuitry 42, the loading apparatus of the present invention is inoperative, and the loading apparatus of the present invention provides user a constant loading when the switch 40 is turned to ON. To provide different loading levels, the resistor R may be simply a variable resistor.

As shown in FIG. 3, the loading apparatus of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention may provide different loading levels. In this embodiment, the loading apparatus, same as discussed above, includes a motor 44 and a controller 46. The different part is that a circuitry in the controller 46 includes six resistors R1˜R6 in parallel connection. The resistances of the resistors R1˜R6 are different. The controller 46 also includes a switch 48, which may switch one of the resistors R1˜R6 for the circuitry. As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 48 switches the resistor R3 that the loading apparatus of the present invention may provide a specific loading level, and when the switch 48 switches the other resistor, such as R4, the loading apparatus of the present invention will provide a different loading level

FIG. 4 shows a loading apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention, which includes a power supply 50 connected to a circuitry of a controller 52. The power supply 50 includes a plug 54 to be connected to an AC power and a rectifier 56. A switch 58 in the circuitry may switch resistors R1˜R6 or the power supply 50 (FIG. 4 shows the resistor R3 is switched to the circuitry). When the switch 58 is switched to the power supply 50, it may drive the motor 60 turning and, therefore, the crank 64 will be turned trough the transmission device 62. In this status, the loading apparatus of the present invention is inoperative. This is for some specific user, such as spine injury patients, diabetics, or others, to take exercise by the moving crank 64.

As shown in FIG. 5, the loading apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the third embodiment, except that the resistors R1˜R6 of the circuitry are in series connection. The resistances of the resistors R1˜R6 may be same or may be different. As shown FIG. 5, when the switch 66 is switched to the position, the total resistance of the circuitry is R3+R4+R5+R6. The switch 66 may be switched to change the loading level.

The loading apparatus may be mounted on any exercise machines, such as treadmill, exercise bike, stepper, elliptical trainer, and other exercise machines. These exercise machines surly have an exercise apparatus, such as the crank for exercise bike, the running belt and rollers for treadmill, and pedals for stepper, on which user takes exercise. Through a specific transmission device, the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine may be connected to the motor of the present invention, and user may operate the switch of the controller to change the loading level.

The primary character of the present invention is usage of the kinetic energy of user taking exercise on the exercise machine to drive the motor generating an electrical power and transmit it back to the motor through a circuitry with resistance that the motor may provide a reverse force to give the exercise machine a brake. The resistance of the circuitry may be changed to change the loading level. The loading apparatus may provide the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine a brake without any power input. It is competitive in the market.

The description above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the equivalence of the present invention is still in the scope of the claim of the present invention. 

1. A loading apparatus, which is mounted on an exercise machine having an exercise apparatus, comprising: a motor having a rotor connected to the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine through a transmission device; and a circuitry, which has at least a resistor, having opposite ends electrically connected to the motor; Whereby when the exercise apparatus of the exercise machine is moved, the rotor of the motor will be turned through the transmission device to generate an induced current flowing through the circuitry, and the circuitry will flow the induced current back to the motor to drive the rotor turning reversely.
 2. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the circuitry has a switch.
 3. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the circuitry has a variable resistor.
 4. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the circuitry includes a plurality of resistors in parallel connection and a switch.
 5. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the circuitry includes a plurality of resistors in series connection and a switch.
 6. The loading apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a power supply connected to the circuitry. 